In the novel, time is a repeating cycle. First, Vladimir says, “Hand in hand from the top of the Eiffel Tower, among the first. We were respectable in those days. Now it's too late. They wouldn't even let us up. (Estragon tears at his boot.) What are you doing?” Estragon responds, “Taking off my boot. Did that never happen to you?” Then,
Vladimir tells Estragon, “Boots must betaken off every day, I'm tired telling you that.” (Page 3). Here, we are introduced to a repeating routine for Vladimir and Estragon. Then, Vladimir and Estragon are talking about waiting for Godot. Vladimir says, “We’ll come back to-morrow.” Estragon replies, “And then the day after to-morrow.” (Page 9). This shows that life increases but time is meaningless to Vladimir and Estragon. They have nothing better to do than wait. On page 10, Vladimir and Estragon are arguing about what day Godot said he would arrive. The labeling of time with words such as, “Saturday” or “Thursday” is random and made up. This may be the reason why Vladimir and Estragon do not know what day it really is. Finally, Vladimir says, “We are waiting for Godot to come.” Then, Vladimir adds, “Or for night to fall.” (Page 91). Vladimir’s concept of time is connected with the concept of waiting for Godot. The cycle of waiting for Godot is repetitive and the same as waiting everyday for night to come. The same process always begins again the next day.
Each minute that Vladimir and Estragon spend waiting brings death closer and makes the arrival of Godot less likely. It seems that time changes from Act 1 to Act 2 in that the tree has grown leaves in a single night. This may indicate a change of seasons. Also, time significantly changes and affects Pozzo and Lucky because Pozzo goes blind and Lucky loses his ability to speak. Pozzo says, “Don't question me! The blind have no notion ... of time. The things of time are hidden from them too.” He is saying that he is "blind" to time, or cannot understand its workings.
Waiting for Godot is based on the fact that time has no arranged cycle or sequence. This means that time is meaningless. Vladimir and Estragon pass time by doing the same thing everyday– waiting for Godot. Vladimir and Estragon begin to realize they have knowledge of how long they have been waiting for Godot. Therefore, time is significant because the never-ending waiting reduces the meaning of their life.